PESHAWAR: Authorities have tightened security in Peshawar amid a high alert, closing roads leading to Assembly Chowk and the Red Zone with shipping containers, ARY News reported on Sunday.
Heavy police contingents have also been deployed along GT Road, Warsak Road, Kohat Road and Pishtakhara Road.
Meanwhile, containers have been placed on the entry road from Swat. Mobile phone and internet services have also been suspended in Swabi.
The measures come as the long march led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi remains in Mardan. The march intends to move towards Peshawar rather than Swabi if emergency measures are imposed in the province.
KP Police Chief Orders Security Measures
Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has issued guidelines to district police officers, directing them to take precautionary measures to handle possible protests.
The provincial police chief warned that miscreants or anti-state elements could target public and government property. He directed police to ensure the security of government buildings, public assets and police stations.
The IG instructed officers to initially handle demonstrations and gatherings through dialogue. If negotiations fail, anti-riot squads would be deployed, followed by the use of aerial firing and rubber bullets, according to the reported directives.
He also ordered authorities to record and monitor protests through video surveillance.
PTI Opposes Emergency and Governor’s Rule
The security measures come amid political tensions over the proposed imposition of governor’s rule and emergency measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During a party meeting held on Saturday night, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposed both measures.
In a statement issued after a joint meeting of its political and core committees, the party said it was committed to protecting the constitutional and democratic rights of the people. It also condemned all forms of terrorism.
“The PTI is against terrorists and terrorism,” the statement said.
The party also welcomed opposition to governor’s rule from the Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and Jamaat-e-Islami.
The PTI said its political and core committees would meet again if the government took any extraordinary constitutional or executive measures.
